Lintner finishes 23rd in Alabama tournament

GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. — Putting together back to back 20-pound bag weights enabled Jared Lintner to climb 15 spots in the final standings Saturday at Lake Guntersville.

The Arroyo Grande pro finished in 23rd place which was his best finish in four tournaments on the Alabama lake. His previous best was 35th in 2007, his second season on the tour.

Lintner finished with a 59-pound, 6-ounce total weight for 15 fish. It increased his Bassmaster Elite winnings for 2010 to $31,500.

The fifth-year pro had his heaviest total (20-4) Saturday. It followed Friday’s 20-1 limit that jumped him over the 47-man cut and into the money round. It had been 11 tournaments since the 36-year-old weighed back to back 20-pound limits. It hadn’t happened since his third-place finish at Lake Amistad in Texas in the first event of 2009.

Help us deliver journalism that makes a difference in our community.

Our journalism takes a lot of time, effort, and hard work to produce. If you read and enjoy our journalism, please consider subscribing today.

He needs another finish in the money in the final three tournaments on the schedule to cover the $40,000 Elite entry fees.

Lintner was one of only nine anglers in the 47-man field who competed Saturday who weighed 20-pound plus bags.

South Carolinian Davy Hite overtook California’s Skeet Reese, who had led the first two days of the competition. Hite had the heaviest fish (7-14) and the heaviest limit (28-6) to move into the lead from second place. Hite leads Reese 79-13 to 74-14 heading into today’s final round.